Substitute Teacher Certification in Minnesota

Substitute teachers have their own set of rules and regulations in Minnesota, and those who wish to pursue this job are a vital part of the education process. Read on to find out degree requirements (yes, you need one!), as well as administrative procedures.

Minnesota state legislation requires substitute teachers to hold a bachelor's degree in any field to be eligible for short-call substitute teaching. If you decide to pursue teaching as a full-time position, you'll need to go through a teacher education program.

If you're looking to get your foot in the door as a substitute teacher, you're going to need some kind of bachelor's degree. Minnesota law does not mandate what you study, as long as it's a four-year, accredited program recognized in the United States. For example, a Bachelor of Science in Accounting could see you studying courses such as business income tax; principles of management; and law, justice, and society. Meanwhile, students earning a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Technology can find courses similar to systems analysis and design, information security, and data structures and algorithms.

Substitutes looking for longer licenses, or those who are considering making teaching a full-time possibility, should focus their academic efforts in education. A Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, for example, prepares educators with a student teaching experience, allowing them to adequately prepare for a career as a teacher. Classes in this program might include titles such as learning, cognition, and assessment; introduction to child psychology; and introductory college physics.

There are no Minnesota Teacher License Examination (MTLE) requirements for short-term substitute teachers called in on short notice. For those completing a teacher education program, the state requires several of the exams to be passed for full licenses. The first on the list will be the Essential Academic Standards (EAS) Test, a three-part exam consisting of multiple choice questions in reading, mathematics, and writing, the last of which also contains one longer writing assignment. All three of these subtests must be passed in order to receive a complete mark on the entire test. Depending on grade level and content, there are also pedagogy tests for early childhood (birth through grade 3), elementary (kindergarten through grade 6), and secondary (grade 5 through grade 12), as well as content-area tests for a wide variety of subjects. Most of these tests come in multiple-choice format and contain two subtests each.

Licensing Requirements for Substitute Teachers in Minnesota

Short-term substitute teachers have the same qualifications as those earning a Tier 1 License in the state of Minnesota. These educators are not part of the collective bargaining unit, and they have no continuing contract rights. Substitutes are required to go through the same background check as all other educators through the superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Cashier's checks or money orders can be made out to the bureau, which will also check fingerprints as part of the application process. Licenses can be revoked immediately should something be discovered on the applicant's record.

Extra Resources for Substitute Teacher Certification in Minnesota

Study.com has a wealth of information for those who are asked to fill in at the last moment as a teacher in Minnesota. Check out the variety of courses available in our database, such as the following: